State says it acted in interest of justice by agreeing to hand over documents to Mapisa-Nqakula's legal team
Mapisa-Nqakula is accused of soliciting and receiving bribes amounting to R4.5 million from a defence contractor when she was defence minister.
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula at the Pretoria Magistrates Court on 20 January 2025. Picture: Thabiso Goba/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG -The State says it acted in the interest of justice by agreeing to hand over documents it once referred to as "confidential" to the lawyers of corruption-accused former minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.
Mapisa-Nqakula is accused of soliciting and receiving bribes amounting to R4.5 million from a defence contractor when she was defence minister.
She appeared in the Pretoria High Court on Monday for her application to have the State disclose further particulars in her case.
Among the documents Mapisa-Nqakula is requesting are the diary and pocketbook of the investigation officer.
She is also looking for correspondence between the investigating officer and the prosecutor in her case.
READ: State, defence in Mapisa-Nqakula corruption case agree over disclosure of documents
Her lawyers also want the sealed military docket opened against the State's star witness, Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu.
The State initially opposed disclosing this, saying the documents were confidential and won't be used during trial.
The spokesperson for the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC), Henry Mamothame, said the State decided against opposing Mapisa-Nqakula's requests.
"[The] IDAC decided to follow this approach of having a roundtable discussion in the interest of justice, and in a sincere attempt to narrow the facts at issue and move the matter to trial as soon as possible."
The matter returns to court on the 28 March.